Have you been lucky enough to spot one of these naturally pink animals in the wild?
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Flamingo
When you think of naturally pink animals, your mind probably goes right to a flamingo. These brightly colored birds are born with gray feathers that turn pink over time because of a natural dye they get from their diet of brine shrimp and blue-green algae.
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Pygmy seahorse
This pink sea creature, also known as Bargibant’s pygmy seahorse, is so small (it grows to a maximum length of .94 inches) and well-camouflaged that it wasn’t discovered until 1969, when a marine biologist stumbled across it while studying coral. Pygmy seahorses have protuberances on their bodies that can match the color and shape of the coral they’re living in, and they are found colored either purple with pink protuberances or yellow with orange protuberances.
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Axolotl
The axolotl salamander is different from other salamanders because it keeps its tadpole-like dorsal fin and external gills throughout its life. They also live in the water their whole lives, at the bottoms of lakes and canals. Axolotls come in a few different colors, but those found in the wild are usually a mottled grey-brown. If they’re pink, they were most likely bred in captivity. Although some animals can change color, the axolotl is not among them.
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Pine grosbeak
The pine grosbeak is a plump finch with a round head. The males are the ones that are pinkish-red and gray, and the females are gray with reddish-orange or yellow markings.
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Roseate skimmer
Despite its pretty appearance, the roseate skimmer is a deadly predator. They live in North America and South America in open ponds and areas with a slow stream of water so they can feast on insects throughout the day.
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Small elephant hawk-moth
This pretty pink moth is known as the small elephant hawk-moth, and it can be found in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They start their lives as gray caterpillars and transform into pink and olive-colored moths. Just don’t confuse the small elephant hawk-moth with the elephant hawk-moth, which is bigger and has more of a greenish tint.
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Pink manta ray
Photographer Kristian Laine captured this breathtaking image of the world’s only pink manta ray, and it’s one of the most strikingly beautiful photos of animals in the wild. From fin to fin, the manta ray measures 11 feet, and it lives near Lady Elliot Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef. The manta ray’s nickname is Inspector Clouseau, inspired by the bumbling character from The Pink Panther.
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Katydid
You’ll rarely find a pink katydid, as they are typically green. For those that are pink, the coloring is due to a genetic mutation known as erythrism, which causes a reddish pigmentation that affects the skin, body, hair, feathers or eggshells of an insect.
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Hairy squat lobster
Isn’t that a funny name? These small sea creatures are found in the western Indo-Pacific oceans and are only about a half-inch long. They have a translucent body with pinky-purple legs, with purple spots and white hairs covering their body.
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Orchid mantis
The beautiful pink and white orchid mantis doesn’t actually live on orchids, but it does resemble the petals of the flower closely. It can be found in Malaysia and uses its unique coloring to blend in with the flowers around it.
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Domestic pigs
Pink pigs actually came to be when farmers would breed lightly colored domesticated pigs. They are pink because of a gene mutation that causes them to stop making melanin.
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Pink dragon millipede
This millipede was first discovered in Thailand and named for its shockingly bright appearance. The millipede’s glands produce hydrogen cyanide to fend off predators, which also gives them an almond-like smell. Their bright color functions as a warning, telling other creatures that they are incredibly toxic.
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Sea stars
Sea stars come in a variety of different colors and live in all of the world’s oceans, making them one of the most easily found of the naturally pink animals. They come in such bright colors to help them camouflage against or scare off predators. You might think sea stars are fish (since they’re commonly known as starfish), but that’s one of those “facts” about animals that people often get wrong—in fact, marine biologists have decided to rename starfish to sea stars.
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Amazon River dolphin
Amazon River dolphins are born gray and become pink as they age. This happens because as they get older, their skin becomes more translucent, which allows the blood to show through, giving them a pinkish color. When they get excited, they might become a brighter shade of pink, just like human faces when they get embarrassed.
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Roseate spoonbill
The roseate spoonbill looks like a smaller flamingo with a shorter neck and spoon-like bill, hence its name. Just like flamingos, they develop their pinkish color because of their diet.
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Nudibranch
There are more than 2,000 known species of nudibranch, and they come in a variety of vibrant colors. They can be found in oceans around the world but are most commonly found in shallow, tropical waters. They are among the most colorful animals in the ocean.
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Sources:
- BBC Science Focus: “Flamingoes aren’t born pink. Here’s the (very bizarre) reason they take on that colour”
- Oceana.org: “Pygmy Seahorse”
- National Geographic: “Axolotl”
- World Wildlife Fund: “Should you keep an exotic animal as a pet? A new guide can help you tell.”
- Allaboutbirds.org: “Pine Grosbeak”
- Bug Guide: “Species Orthemis ferruginea – Roseate Skimmer”
- Butterfly Conservation: “Small Elephant Hawk-moth”
- Kristian Laine, photographer
- National Geographic: “How did this rare pink manta get its color?”
- Treehugger: “Photos of the Very Rare Pink Katydid”
- EarthSky: “Lifeform of the week: Hairy pink squat lobster”
- Keeping Insects: “Orchid Mantis”
- New Scientist: “Colourful pigs evolved through farming, not nature”
- Wildlife Thailand: “Shocking Pink Dragon Millipede”
- National Geographic: “Starfish”
- Wilderness Classroom: “Amazon River Dolphin”
- Allaboutbirds.org: “Roseate Spoonbill”
- National Geographic: “Nudibranchs”
